I genuinely thought we’d lost
Indoor Pets… This Kent rabble initially swaggered onto my gig dance card as Get
Inuit, as long ago as November 2015 (gig 965) with some infectious
helium-voiced Silver Sun-like Summery powerpop, then suffering a necessary if
momentum-stalling name change before finally delivering their debut album “Be
Content” in early 2019 (namechecking yours truly on the cover in the process!).
We’d last crossed paths later that year on my birthday (gig 1,144) as a warm-up
for their biggest gig to date, supporting emo juggernauts Weezer at Brixton
Academy of all places. Hopes were high for this providing a serious launchpad
to future success. Then, of bloody course, Covid hit…
Covid restrictions were eventually lifted and gig-life happily returned to normal, but little was heard from Indoor Pets, leading me to sadly suspect they’d jacked it in. However, earlier this year came the happy FB pronouncement; “2019 called – they want their shittest band back!” Yup, Indoor Pets were back, and with a new album in the can as well; “Pathetic Apathetic”, their sophomore effort, was full of their trademark jagged and spritely powerpop, albeit with the noise, attitude and dynamism cranked up a few notches, even. A powerful statement of intent; we’re back, and we’re not in the mood to fuck around this time! Needless to say, I booked a CD+tour ticket bundle immediately for a return to the Louie for them – and me!
Occasional Tuppenny gig friend Joanna gave me a last-minute shout to tag along, so we hit the road when Rach returned from Bristol herself (a matinee of “Hamilton” with Jami), parking up and meeting Jo’s friend Jamie for a drink. October Drift frontman Kiron surprisingly rocked up, so I had a chat with the man, plus arriving IP bassist Olly, before nipping upstairs to catch openers Cherym. I’d actually caught and enjoyed a couple of their numbers in support of The Beths in Bristol on a 2-gig night in 2022 (gig 1,223), but hadn’t followed that sighting up. My mistake. Bounding onstage in a riot (grrl) of colour, vigour and attitude, vocalist, main rabble-rouser and ball of fire Hannah Richardson led their 3-piece through a sparkling set of scruffy indie-punk rock, with hints of psych, grunge and 70’s NYC new wave cool thrown in the melting pot for good measure. Opener “Alpha Beta Sigma” was a 4-alarm indie blast, “Colourblind” a Runaways-esque slice of proto punk swagger with a delicious contrasting vocal harmony line, and “Abigail” a positively Blondie-esque pop hook under all the grungy noise, all delivered vocally with gabbling enthusiasm by Hannah. Drummer Alannagh Doherty took to the front to lead the crowd in a therapeutic “fuck you” to various exes before taking lead vocals on the yelping savage hookery of “Aggressive Therapy”, with the Damone-esque hobnail boot-stomping blare and soaring “whoa-oh” choral hook of “It’s Not Me It’s You” rounding off a bolshy, breathless and bright set. Great stuff!
Follow that, Indoor Pets! In all honesty, I had little doubt that they’d do so, so I took the front centre spot as the boys set up, vocalist Jamie greeting me as he finished his pedal set-up. They returned onstage prompt at 9.15, and despite my having warned Jamie to go easy on me due to my recently surgically repaired knee, the little tinker decided to lead his charges through a “let’s fuck the old guy’s knees up good and proper” set, opening with a fast, frantic and absolutely tremendous sounding “Mean Heart”, before the laconic verse and soaring choral hook of “Hi”. “It’s so nice to be back!” the man exclaimed prior to the herky-jerky XTC-plus-heavy-reverb of the aptly named newie “Fidget Panic Restless Static”, before subsequently deadpanning, “sod that, let’s just play the old ones!”, thence launching into the snarky gabble of “All My Friends” with nary a pause for breath. So I could do little else other than go for it myself, forming the vanguard of an increasing and enthusiastic (and generally young and female!) moshpit.
The five years fell away, as Indoor Pets were “on it” tonight, delivering a brilliant and brilliantly chosen set, interspersing the heavier newies in with old faves, all being played with kinetic energy and barely hidden glee. “Recklessly”, my favourite of the new album, was an early highlight, a classic pop number with a tumbling, plaintive hook; the funky grunge of “Stink Eye” saw Jamie abandon the stage for the mosh behind me; and the mid-set triumvirate of a hurtling “Teriyaki”, the in-your-face terrace chant roar of “Barbiturates” and the dynamic helium gabble of “Pro Procrastinator” was a breathless gut-punch. All too soon, a sweaty, swaggering and singalong 16-number strong (!) set was rounded off with an anthemic “London”, the boys departing to cheers and compliments from this young crowd, plus this sweaty old guy!
Chatted with Kiron plus OD drummer
Chris before popping down for more chat and mutual compliments from the band,
particularly drummer Rob, who’d given me a shout out onstage and remarked on my
front-row shape-throwing, and a lengthier catch up with Olly. Pix and signed
lists with both bands before heading into the chill Bristol night, then
scooting along the M4 for 11.30 arrival home after dropping Jo off. Another in
a splendid run of stellar gigs in the books then, a real new find in the
excellent Cherym for me, but overall a joyous, heart-warming and welcome return
(and in great form too!) for the wonderful Indoor Pets!
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